Ghost Stocks

Chapter 17

Feng Junzi: "This person is Chen Xiaosan's cousin. He was a surgeon before he died. Can't you think of anything? If he was involved in the case two years ago, and you know that doctors must be involved in such cases, what would he think if he suddenly found himself in the same situation?"

Chang Wu: "What you said makes sense, but he's not stupid. Doesn't he know he wasn't injured?"

Feng Junzi laughed: "People can hallucinate under certain circumstances. For example, they might see words on a note even though there are none on it, feel ice in a bathtub even though there is none, or find wounds even though they are not injured. Do you think this is possible?"

Chang Wu: "So how does this kind of hallucination occur?"

Feng Junzi: "As the saying goes, suspicion breeds ghosts. If he has done such a thing, he will naturally make the same association in the same environment. At this time, as long as an external force adds a little push to his mind, his hallucination will appear."

Chang Wu: "What are you referring to as external forces?"

Feng Junzi: "For example, a ghost, a ghost who died unjustly."

Chang Wu's expression changed upon hearing this, and he asked urgently, "Are you implying something to me?"

Feng Junzi raised his cup and drank, speaking slowly and deliberately: "I didn't say anything, I was just guessing. But there are examples of killing people using psychological suggestion. You should have heard of a foreign experiment: someone blindfolded a death row inmate, tied him to a chair, and used a piece of ice to scratch his wrist, but it didn't even break the skin. Then they played the sound of a dripping faucet for him... Two hours later, when they removed the blindfold, the man was already dead."

Chang Wu: "I've heard of this experiment. Are you saying that Chen Yidao might have died this way?"

Feng Junzi: "Actually, what killed Chen Yidao wasn't some vengeful spirit, but the demon within his own heart. He could live, and he could die! If he had a clear conscience, he wouldn't have died, but the fact that he is dead now only proves that he was truly guilty!"

Chang Wu looked quietly into Feng Junzi's eyes, as if he had something to ask, but remained silent for a long time before finally saying nothing more.

Part Two: Ghost Alley 18 - Suspicious and Ghostly

Chen Yidao's death was bizarre, even mysterious, and the story circulated in the streets for quite some time. But the aftermath of Chen Yidao's death was far from over. When people were taking stock of his belongings, they found a large amount of cash and valuable jewelry in his wardrobe and desk. Meanwhile, his wife and mother almost went to court over the distribution of his estate. Then, somehow, a former lover of Chen Yidao appeared, who was said to have taken a lot of his money and was still living in a house that Chen Yidao had bought. So the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law united against him... In short, three women make a drama, and things got really messy.

Chen's mother originally wanted Chen Xiaosan to help resolve these matters, but Chen Xiaosan's mind wasn't on that at all; he couldn't be bothered with Chen Yidao's family affairs. After learning of Chen Yidao's mysterious death, Chen Xiaosan lived in constant fear. He immediately thought of Piaopiao's case two years ago. His intuition told him that Chen Yidao's death was directly related to the murder two years prior, but he wasn't entirely certain, because Chen Yidao had committed many other despicable acts. He instinctively wanted to figure things out and decided to consult with someone.

The person he was looking for was Li Datou. This Li Datou wasn't some scoundrel like Chen Xiaosan. His real name was Li Jinkui, a respectable overseas graduate with a master's degree who had returned to China. He was currently the assistant general manager and chief financial officer of Weida Shares, and had previously served as the board secretary. When Hu Shiwei got into trouble, he was the manager of the securities department, and he had just become the chief financial officer this month. Regarding Piaopiao's matter, Wei Boxi hadn't directly contacted Chen Xiaosan; he had simply given instructions. Everything was arranged by Li Datou.

Chen Xiaosan found Li Datou and told him about Chen Yidao's situation, expressing his concerns. Finally, he cautiously asked Li Datou, "Do you think we should report this to Boss Wei? That way, if any trouble arises, it will be easier to resolve."

Li Datou was secretly alarmed, but he tried to remain calm and said to Chen Xiaosan, "Why bother President Wei with such a trivial matter? If you can't even handle your own affairs, how will the boss use you in the future? Who still knows about the case from two years ago?"

Chen Xiaosan: "That's all. Apart from the dead Chen Yidao, all that's left is you and me."

Li Datou's mind raced: "Is it really just you and me? If you don't tell and I don't tell either, no one should know. What are you afraid of?"

Chen Xiaosan thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and nervously said to Li Datou, "There should be another person, the girl from the Midnight Nightclub, who was also the deceased's classmate, what was her name, Shuangshuang? She should know something about the inside story."

Li Datou asked nervously, "Does she know you?"

Chen Xiaosan: "We've met before."

Li Datou: "Does she know me?"

Chen Xiaosan: "I don't know, I didn't tell her much."

Li Datou seemed to secretly breathe a sigh of relief and said to Chen Xiaosan, "President Wei is currently troubled by something. Don't bother him with such trivial matters; you know his temper. You'd better find out whether Chen Yidao's death is related to Shuangshuang. I don't need to tell you how to do it, do I?"

...

Li Datou told Chen Xiaosan that Wei Boxi was indeed troubled by something. Wei Boxi had been very unhappy these past few days, all because of rumors circulating online. He didn't know when it started, but almost every influential financial forum across the country had started posting about insider information regarding Weida Shares, and the content of these posts was very unfavorable to him.

The content of the post also puzzled Wei Boxi. It was clearly written by an insider, sounding incredibly inflammatory and convincing. According to the post, Weida Shares had engaged in almost every kind of shady business that exists in the securities market. Wei Boxi knew Weida Shares' situation best. These online comments made him very uncomfortable. Some comments were true, some were genuine, and some were fabricated. The true ones were indeed true; they were Weida Shares' secrets, and exposing them would cause trouble. The false ones were clearly fabricated, but they were so detailed and believable that if he hadn't known the situation himself, he would almost have believed them.

If things were out in the open, Wei Boxi wouldn't be worried; he believed he could handle it. But what truly troubled him was not knowing who was behind it or what their motives were. He asked his assistant, Li Jinkui, to investigate the post's source, but such posts, repeatedly reposted online, were difficult to trace back to their origin. Li Jinkui told him that the perpetrator would definitely follow up, and that specialized technicians should keep an eye out; they would surely be able to find out next time. Wei Boxi had no choice but to wait.

He's been receiving numerous calls from various media outlets these past few days, requesting interviews on this matter, all of which he politely declined. He only told the media that the company would be publishing a clarification announcement soon, refuting the false rumors. He had also discussed the clarification announcement with the company's senior management and felt quite conflicted. Some things remain rumors without clarification, but once clarified, they prove the existence of the information. Therefore, the clarification announcement must be substantial, proving that the rumors are indeed false. The consensus reached was to refute the obvious fabrications in the rumors; once one point is debunked, the other rumors will crumble.

...

The person secretly causing trouble was undoubtedly Feng Junzi. Feng Junzi didn't know exactly what shady dealings Weida Shares had, but Xiaowei's accident and the subsequent dream he received reminded him that Weida Shares definitely had secrets. What kind of shady dealings a company like Weida could possibly have might seem mysterious to outsiders, but Feng Junzi was an expert. He collected almost every kind of material about Weida Shares, noting down any suspicious points and fabricating a story based on the most plausible deductions. He didn't know exactly where Weida Shares' problems lay, but he knew that Weida Shares' problems must lie in one or more of these areas.

Wei Boxi is currently focused on how to issue a clarification announcement, while Feng Junzi is also waiting for Weida Shares' clarification announcement. Weida Shares' clarification announcement can point Feng Junzi in the right direction, telling him exactly where the real problem lies. This is what they call "the layman sees the spectacle, the expert sees the details"—a listed company's clarification announcement often serves as an insider hint. He's now waiting for the main course to arrive after the miscellaneous feast.

Feng Junzi had more than just one thing on his mind. Chen Xiaosan was thinking about going to find Han Shuang, and Feng Junzi also expected that Chen Xiaosan would go to find Han Shuang. So after Chen Yidao's matter was over, he asked Han Shuang to move out of Huashan Community and move into his own home. He also told Han Shuang to stay at home for a while and not to go out, so that Chen Xiaosan could not find him for the time being.

Han Shuang was initially reluctant, but Feng Junzi made it very clear: "You know very well how Piaopiao died two years ago. You should know what kind of person Chen Xiaosan is now. He won't scare you with a fake knife like I did. What he's going to show you will definitely be the real thing."

Han Shuang: "So much time has passed, would he still think of me?"

Feng Junzi: "Even I thought of that, so how could Chen Xiaosan not have thought of it himself? I didn't ask you for help because I didn't want to put you in danger, but you are indeed in danger now."

Han Shuang said bitterly, "Let him come if he wants. I'm not afraid of him anymore. At worst, we'll fight to the death. I used to tremble when I encountered these people. Now I think it's ridiculous to live like this. Chen Yidao is dead, good riddance! Chen Xiaosan deserves to die too, all these stinking men deserve to die... I'm sorry... I wasn't talking about you."

Feng Junzi stared at Han Shuang, seemingly trying to discern something from her pretty face. He felt that Han Shuang had changed drastically since her "resurrection" that night, even more so than he had expected. He had initially thought that Han Shuang's willingness to help him was merely due to the fright of the ghost, or a fleeting moment of remorse, or perhaps because he held leverage over her, forcing her to cooperate. Now it seemed that things were not so simple. Han Shuang even hated Chen Xiaosan and his ilk more than he did, as evidenced by her proactive approach to Chen Yidao's matter. It seemed that while Feng Junzi had stirred up her remorse, he had also stirred up her hatred. He had a vague feeling that something was amiss. He didn't know if he had pulled this woman of the night back from the brink of depravity, but he was certain that he had led her to a dangerous edge.

Harboring resentment and seeking revenge against the world's most hateful people is a dangerous game; if handled poorly, it could end in self-destruction. He also felt a chill—was he himself heading towards this dangerous edge? If so, he needed to be careful.

Thinking of this, he said to Han Shuang, "I know you hate them, but the purpose of hating bad people is to make good people live better lives. At least you are a good person now, so I can't let you be in danger. If you want to deal with Wei Boxi and Chen Xiaosan, you must first protect yourself. Otherwise, if something happens to you, how will you deal with them?"

Han Shuang laughed, a laugh that seemed rather desolate, and asked, "Am I a good person? Do you think I'm a good person? Someone like me?"

Feng Junzi was speechless for a moment, then replied, "A friend of mine who is a policeman once told me: There are only two colors in the world, black and white, and there is no gray in between."

Han Shuang: "What do you mean?"

Feng Junzi: "Inside that door, you are black; once you come out, you are white. Some people may think that there are many hidden, gray things in the world, but that's an illusion. If you see through it, there is only black and white underneath the gray. I won't talk about what you were like before, but at least now, you are lovely white in my eyes."

Han Shuang's smile changed from desolate to warm as she asked, "Do you really think I'm cute?"

Feng Junzi felt a little regretful. He felt that he shouldn't have spoken so frivolously to Han Shuang, but there was nothing he could do now, so he could only continue, "Of course, come with me." Han Shuang turned around, packed her things, and left with Feng Junzi.

...

Chen Xiaosan went looking for Han Shuang but found no one there. People at the Midnight Nightclub told him that Shuangshuang hadn't come to work for a long time. He managed to find out Han Shuang's address, but she didn't seem to have gone home for several days. However, Chen Xiaosan felt that Han Shuang hadn't gone far because her car was still parked downstairs.

Feng Junzi intentionally left Han Shuang's car downstairs. Firstly, the car was too conspicuous and easily spotted; secondly, it served another purpose—it was Han Shuang's only clue, and with it, they could track Chen Xiaosan's movements. Chen Xiaosan thought he was secretly investigating Han Shuang, but his actions were being observed by the real ghost. Piao Piao told Feng Junzi that Chen Xiaosan had been loitering around Han Shuang's car every night for the past few days.

That evening, Chen Xiaosan arrived again, this time in his company car. Just as his car reached the entrance of Huashan Residential Area, he suddenly saw Han Shuang's car approaching from the opposite direction, and it appeared to be Han Shuang driving. Overjoyed, Chen Xiaosan quickly turned around and followed. Han Shuang's car headed straight for the downtown area, and Chen Xiaosan followed, traversing most of the city, until they arrived at the entrance of Binhai Park.

Chen Xiaosan saw Han Shuang's car parked in the parking lot at the park entrance from afar, and Han Shuang's figure had already walked into the park. Chen Xiaosan hurriedly parked his car and quickly followed her in. It was already past ten o'clock at night. There was no entrance fee to the park, and the citizens who came to stroll and dance in groups had long since left. Perhaps only couples in love were still hiding in the bushes under the cover of the night.

Although Feng Junzi had arranged everything, he, hiding in the shadows, felt worried for Han Shuang when he saw Chen Xiaosan chasing after her. Han Shuang herself seemed completely unconcerned, walking leisurely towards a flower-lined corridor in the darkness. Feng Junzi only breathed a slight sigh of relief after seeing that no one followed Chen Xiaosan inside.

This flower-lined promenade is a scenic spot in the seaside park. In the height of summer, the promenade is covered with dense vines, and flower bushes are planted densely on both sides. The promenade is quite long, with nine twists and turns, making it a pleasant place to escape the summer heat. However, at night, it looks eerie and sinister, and even lovers are reluctant to be intimate there. Chen Xiaosan saw Han Shuang slip into the promenade and felt a surge of joy. He was a desperate criminal and wasn't afraid of any dark environments. He thought that this was a perfect opportunity to intercept Han Shuang in this secluded spot. On one hand, he wanted to ask Han Shuang if she knew anything about Chen Yidao, and on the other hand, he wanted to have some fun and maybe even extort some money from her. At that moment, he thought, "This woman is really good-looking. I can't let her go after all the trouble I've put in these past few days." So he followed Han Shuang into the promenade.

The corridor twisted and turned, and Han Shuang's shadow was nowhere to be seen ahead. Chen Xiaosan chased after her. For some reason, a cold wind blew over him as soon as he entered the corridor, and he shivered. The further he walked in the darkness, the weaker his confidence seemed to become, and his steps gradually slowed down.

Chen Xiaosan felt the air around him growing colder and colder. He wondered what frightening thing lurked in the darkness, and a sense of dread crept over him. But he was a fearless man, and he immediately shook his head, finding himself ridiculous. He thought, "What haven't I done? What's there to be afraid of?"

Just as Chen Xiaosan was thinking this, he suddenly bumped into something, startling him so much that he jumped back. He took out his lighter, lit it, and saw a card-shaped object swaying in the air. Someone had used a thin rope to suspend it in the middle of the corridor, something Chen Xiaosan hadn't noticed while lost in thought.

Chen Xiaosan brought the lighter's flame closer to his face, his expression as if he'd been suddenly punched. The card was actually a photograph printed on white paper, and the person in the photo was himself, Chen Xiaosan! Hitting something was the first shock, suddenly seeing his own photo was the second. Even with his usual bravery, Chen Xiaosan was frightened this time. The lighter's flame had unknowingly gone out.

Chen Xiaosan calmed himself down and lit the lighter again to look at the photo. He noticed a beam of light shining into his eyes. It turned out there was something stuck to the photo. Upon closer inspection, he was once again terrified – it was a small scalpel gleaming coldly in the darkness.

Chen Xiaosan was now truly terrified. He ripped off the photo with the scalpel, hesitating whether to continue chasing Han Shuang. If he did catch up with Han Shuang, would he end up like his cousin Chen Yidao? He thought for a long time, but still took a step forward.

The remaining stretch of road was perhaps the longest Chen Xiaosan had ever walked in his life. He didn't have Feng Junzi's experience of being unable to escape Ghost Alley, nor could he possibly know what it meant for ghosts to block the way. This winding corridor seemed to have no end. Chen Xiaosan walked through the corridor, not knowing how long he had walked, but still hadn't reached the exit. Even demons have their fears. Chen Xiaosan thought himself very brave, but he found that when he felt guilty, he was more vulnerable than anyone else.

At this moment, Feng Junzi and Han Shuang were hiding in the shadows, watching the Flower Shadow Corridor from afar. Seeing that Chen Xiaosan hadn't emerged, they knew Piao Piao's manipulation had succeeded. Chen Xiaosan himself was unaware that his subconscious had been tampered with by a ghost; he simply kept pacing back and forth in the corridor. That night, Chen Xiaosan walked in the corridor for over two hours, until he was almost completely exhausted. Finally, perhaps in a daze, he suddenly understood something, let out a low growl, and stumbled and crawled out from the flower bushes, which were taller than a person.

When Chen Xiaosan emerged from the flower bushes, the thorns scratched his body, but he barely felt any pain. A gust of cold wind blew, and he felt a chill on his trouser legs—he had unknowingly wet his pants. When he returned to the park entrance, Han Shuang's car was long gone.

After returning home, Han Shuang said to Feng Junzi, "Today was really great. It's a pity I didn't scare him to death. Come on, let's have a drink to celebrate."

Feng Junzi didn't seem happy at all: "Are you happy? My heart was in my throat. What if Piaopiao couldn't stop him and caught up with you?"

At this moment, Piao Piao, who was "sitting" to the side, said, "This person's aura is so strong! I can't get close to him normally. It was only when he saw that photo that his aura weakened that I was able to stop him. But then he suddenly broke free and ran away from the flower bushes. I guess I was tired."

Feng Junzi asked curiously, "Do ghosts get tired too?"

"A ghost's body may not get tired, but the willpower of us ghosts can become weary."

Feng Junzi didn't speak, but Han Shuang asked him first: "Were you talking to Piaopiao just now? How come you can see me but I can't, and you can hear me but I can't?"

Feng Junzi thought to himself, "That would be for the best." At the same time, he said to Han Shuang, "If you could see her, what would you want to say to her?"

"Piao Piao, I'm sorry," Han Shuang whispered into her empty room, then lowered her head and fell silent. She lost her appetite for drinking and went back to her room to sleep. Feng Junzi gave his bedroom to Han Shuang and went back to his study to rest.

Part Two: Ghost Alley 19 - Murder by Borrowing a Knife

Chen Xiaosan was shocked and frightened when he got home that night. His body was covered in cuts from flower thorns, and he seemed to have caught a chill. He then fell ill. He had a high fever for two days and was hospitalized. Lying in bed, he talked incoherently. During this time, Li Datou came to see him. After listening to his delirious talk during his high fever, he frowned, his face turned ashen, and he left without saying a word.

After Chen Xiaosan recovered from his illness, he went back to Huashan Residential Area during the day to check on Han Shuang. Han Shuang's car was still parked in the same spot, even covered in a layer of dust, as if no one had touched it in the past few days. For some reason, Chen Xiaosan's courage suddenly underwent a transformation, from being incredibly bold to being timid as a mouse. He no longer had the courage to go to Han Shuang.

However, Li Datou wouldn't let the matter rest, repeatedly pressing Chen Xiaosan about the progress of the investigation into Han Shuang. Chen Xiaosan simply claimed there were no leads. Li Datou was a shrewd man; after a few questions, he realized Chen Xiaosan was lying. Under pressure, Chen Xiaosan had no choice but to recount his terrifying experience that night. After listening to Chen Xiaosan's account, Li Datou looked at him with suspicion, saying nothing more. But Chen Xiaosan felt that Li Datou's gaze was cold, making him very uncomfortable.

Chen Xiaosan hadn't felt well at all. After this incident, he'd been somewhat dazed, and when he walked down the street, he no longer had the fierce demeanor he used to have. Some people's personalities are perhaps like a nut; crack open the hard shell to reveal a soft kernel. Chen Xiaosan was now like a nut that had been shelled.

Chen Xiaosan used to commit all sorts of crimes, always backed by gangs or unidentified forces. He believed that only by being more ruthless than others could he survive, and only by being more vicious could he be fearless in this world. Now, he suddenly sensed a danger that even evil forces couldn't protect him from, and the impact on his mental world was unimaginable to others. Feng Junzi didn't fully understand Chen Xiaosan's transformation, just as he hadn't fully understood Han Shuang's transformation. Han Shuang's transformation was the exact opposite of Chen Xiaosan's; she was like a peach or plum whose flesh had been peeled away, revealing its hard pit.

...

That day, Chang Wu was sitting in his office when his phone suddenly rang. It was Feng Junzi calling: "Chang Wu, are you in your office? I just happened to be passing by, can I come up and sit for a bit?"

"Old Feng, come up here. I'll call your security guard—no, I'll come down and get you."

Feng Junzi was chatting idly in Chang Wu's office when someone came looking for Chang Wu. Chang Wu told Feng Junzi, "Please sit for a while, I'll be right back."

Feng Junzi's phone rang twice and then stopped, so he said to Chang Wu, "Could I borrow the phone on your desk? My phone is dead."

"Whatever, dial 9 first before calling an outside shot."

...

Li Datou hadn't been feeling well these past few days. First, Chen Xiaosan stammered that he couldn't find any clues about Han Shuang, and then he told him a strange story. Li Datou didn't believe Chen Xiaosan's words, or at least not entirely. That day, he was sitting in his office reviewing documents when the office phone on his desk suddenly rang. He answered, and the other end's voice was very serious: "Excuse me, this is Weida Shares. Are you Li Jinkui?"

Li Datou: "Yes, I am Li Jinkui. And who are you?"

"Mr. Li, I'm here to verify something. Is Chen Xiaosan an employee of your company? Has he been working at Weida since 1999?"

"Yes, Chen Xiaosan is an employee of Weida, but he works for the Weida Group—who are you?"

"Okay, thank you. We'll continue to contact you to verify things later." The other party hung up without answering Li Datou's question. Li Datou stared blankly at the phone for a long time, then suddenly remembered something and dialed the switchboard to ask where the outside call had come from.

A short while later, the switchboard operator called him: "Mr. Li, we have caller ID for that call. We know the number; it's the switchboard number for the Ganquan District Public Security Bureau. We don't know which extension it came from."

After hanging up the phone, Li Datou remained silent for a long time. The office wasn't hot, but a fine layer of sweat seemed to be on his forehead. His mind raced: "No wonder I've felt something was off with Chen Xiaosan these past few days. Turns out he's being watched by the cops. I wonder how much the police know about Chen Xiaosan now. Has that kid implicated me? He hasn't given me a single hint... could it be..."

He reconsidered and thought it unlikely. He had always had good relations with the police. If someone were investigating Weida Shares, someone would surely have spoken to them. But if the matter only involved Chen Xiaosan, Weida Shares wouldn't need to intervene for such a minor figure, and Wei Boxi probably wouldn't bother to get involved. It seemed that Chen Xiaosan had only committed a crime and hadn't implicated Wei Boxi yet. So, was he implicated? Why was the police specifically calling Li Jinkui?

Li Datou was overthinking things, and his head was spinning. He almost immediately wanted to call Chen Xiaosan over to ask him questions, but then he thought it wouldn't be appropriate. He then considered reporting the matter to Wei Boxi, but that seemed even more inappropriate. In the end, he decided to ask an acquaintance in the Public Security Bureau for information.

He would have been better off not asking; asking only confused him more. Nobody knew what Chen Xiaosan was up to. Even a deputy director of the Ganquan district bureau told him that they had absolutely not investigated Chen Xiaosan. He couldn't press the matter further, and naturally, he couldn't get any answers. Li Datou thought for a long time before finally making a decision.

...

When Feng Junzi returned home, Han Shuang had already prepared dinner. Han Shuang had truly been acting like a devoted wife and mother lately, obediently staying home and not leaving the house, even having Feng Junzi buy all the daily necessities. Feng Junzi felt a little awkward about this unusual cohabitation, especially when he went to the supermarket to buy women's toiletries; this feeling intensified. However, despite his awkwardness, he couldn't quite put his finger on it, since he was the one who brought Han Shuang home.

But Han Shuang seemed quite at ease, treating the place as if it were her own home. She kept all the rooms tidy and organized every day when she had nothing else to do. Today, she prepared dinner and waited for Feng Junzi to return. During dinner, Feng Junzi told her about calling Li Datou.

After listening, Han Shuang asked Feng Junzi with great interest, "You want to make their insiders suspect Chen Xiaosan, but will making such a random phone call really work?"

Feng Junzi: "This is called using four ounces to move a thousand pounds. Piaopiao told me that Chen Xiaosan has been behaving strangely these past few days, which is already suspicious. Now, with this inexplicable phone call, Li Datou will definitely suspect Chen Xiaosan."